Hank Conger

Not that the Angels like it, but the Houston Astros' trade for Scott Kazmir paid off so well, so soon. On Thursday, the Astros acquired Kazmir, to form a dynamic duo with Dallas Keuchel atop the Houston rotation. On Friday, in his Astros debut, Kazmir threw seven scoreless innings. And, later Friday, the Angels lost. After 12 days of sole possession of first place in the American League West, the Angels fell back into a first-place tie with the Astros. It's only one day, of course. But the Angels' 4-2 loss to the Texas Rangers only underscored the need the Angels themselves acknowledge: They need a bat, like the Astros needed an arm. The Josh Hamilton reunion went...

Related "Hank Conger" Articles

Not that the Angels like it, but the Houston Astros' trade for Scott Kazmir paid off so well, so soon.
On Thursday, the Astros acquired Kazmir, to form a dynamic duo with Dallas Keuchel atop the Houston rotation. On Friday, in his Astros debut, Kazmir...

Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister certainly didn't like the melee between his team and the Houston Astros on Saturday night. He'll take the intensity and emotion the team showed in it any day. Rougned Odor homered early, then got into a testy exchange...

HOUSTON A total of seven major league teams had scouts at the Rangers' sometimes-pristine, sometimes-cantankerous 7-6 win over Houston on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park. Several of the clubs, most notably Kansas City and San Francisco, are...

CLEVELAND The Indians spent five innings Thursday night floundering against Houston Astros starting pitcher Brett Oberholtzer. Then, in the sixth inning, they found a power surge to win their third straight game against the Astros, 3-1. The...

BOSTON — Clay Buchholz knew he had it going right away.Buchholz pitched a six-hitter to win his fourth straight start, coming within one out of a shutout as the Boston Red Sox rebounded from a tough loss with a 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros on...

BOSTON (AP) — Clay Buchholz pitched a six-hitter to win his fourth straight start, coming within one out of a shutout as the Boston Red Sox rebounded from a tough loss with a 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.
Mookie Betts drove in...

The tumultuous 3½-year reign of Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto came to an abrupt end Wednesday when he resigned in the wake of renewed friction with Manager Mike Scioscia.
Dipoto confirmed his resignation to The Times.
Bill Stoneman, who...

KEY MOMENT: With two on and two outs in the second inning, Astros rookie shortstop Carlos Correa drove a full-count pitch from C.J. Wilson to deep left field for a three-run homer -- his fourth in 15 games this season -- and a 4-0 lead, setting the tone...

Before the Angels opened a series against the Houston Astros on Monday night, Manager Mike Scioscia said he would probably keep Mike Trout batting third in the order and Albert Pujols fourth for the rest of the season.
"Unless personnel changes,...

The Angels hit the pause button on Jered Weaver's disappointing season, placing the veteran right-hander on the 15-day disabled list because of left-hip inflammation before Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics.
Weaver will undergo medical tests...

Huston Street found a potential silver lining in Tuesday's rocky inning against Oakland, when the Angels closer gave up four runs and three hits, including Luke Carlin's home run and Mark Canha's three-run home run.
"It means the law of averages...

Washington had the best record in the National League and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season. The team's go-for-it off-season response was to sign ace Max Scherzer for seven years and $210 million.
The Angels had the best...

The Angels' minor league system looked barren even before last July's trades that sent five of their top 10 prospects to San Diego and Arizona for closer Huston Street and reliever Joe Thatcher.
The loss of first-round picks in 2012 and 2013 — a cost...

Jerry Dipoto has heard the criticism of the Angels, that they're getting old, that they're suffocating under the weight of their massive, long-term contracts, that they better win a championship soon, or else.
"That's been the public commentary, the...

On a July afternoon five years ago, the possibility of Mike Trout became quite apparent to the Angels manager.
Before Trout's $144.5-million contract, before the custom Nike cleats bearing the colors of a rainbow trout that he wore in the All-Star game...

Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout worked their way around the perimeter of the spacious visiting clubhouse in Kauffman Stadium on Sunday night, exchanging hugs with teammates and coaches.
It was so quiet in the wake of Kansas City's three-game American...

Right-hander Matt Shoemaker said he had “no doubt” he’ll pitch in the American League division series after throwing another bullpen session Tuesday, and left fielder Josh Hamilton cleared what appeared to be a final hurdle in his return from rib-cage and...